Peers elect Ed Scott as Assistant Coach of the Year

Intermountain Catholic

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The 2011 Boys' Judge Memorial lacrosse team was coached by 2007 Hall of Fame Coach Dave Allen (back left), and 2011 Assistant Coach of the Year Ed Scott (back right). Courtesy photos/JMCHS

SALT LAKE CITY — Ed Scott was honored as Assistant Coach of the Year by the Utah Lacrosse Association in the Spring Division I Post Season awards. Scott has been the assistant lacrosse coach at Judge Memorial Catholic High School for six years.

Scott received the award after being nominated by the Brighton High School coach and was voted on by his peers from throughout the state.

"Being recognized by my peers makes getting this award special," said Scott, who played lacrosse at Farmingdale High School in New York. "I’m quite happy and proud of how the boys came together as a team."

The Bulldogs finished the 2011 season 16-2, with both losses against Brighton, who went on to defeat Judge in the Division 1 Championship game to claim the 2011 state title. The Bulldogs also placed second in 2007 and 2009, but were state champions in 1995, 2000, and 2001.

Dave Allen, the boys’ lacrosse head coach, said Scott has been great to work with over the past six years. "He has been an incredible help to me. Sometimes I can’t be there because of my job," said Allen, who was inducted into the Utah Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2007 and was the Utah Lacrosse Association’s Man of the Year in 2008. In 2009 he was selected as one of the coaches for the National Senior Showcase held in Providence, R.I.

"He lives nearby and is self-employed and is always able to help," Allen said. "When I asked him to assist me, I found out he had actually coached basketball and other teams. He is a student of the lacrosse game and has learned from other people and is a great observer. He would go watch other teams play and could break down what they were doing. We could then figure out how to take advantage of that in the games. He has been a key part of our success for the last six years. He has a loud voice and works the boys hard, but they understand that."

Scott said coaching is all about the boys. "We try to teach them that the game of lacrosse is about having fun, playing fair, respecting your team members and opponents and respecting the game. We teach them how to play the game right," said Scott. "I’ve seen other lacrosse teams and teams in other sports play with poor sportsmanship, so we teach them good Catholic values and how to practice and play hard, and if they lose how to get back up again. It’s really fun working with the students and seeing them build themselves up into a team. Actually teaching them to pass, catch and shoot is one thing, but I really enjoy setting up an environment for them to learn fair play where they build values and lead by example. We teach them how to do things properly and live their life properly as well as how to play the game."

During the season, the Judge lacrosse team also played and defeated Bishop Kelly High School and Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho. "We like to go out of state to play teams," said Scott. "Last year we traveled to Colorado. Traveling out of state gives the boys a fun trip, where they work hard and also have study hall."

All-State honors were given to lacrosse players Patrick Griffin and Andrew Rechsteiner. Second team All-State players were Zachary Knettles and Matt Crispo.

Earning post-season All-Conference honors were Brian Allen, Matt Crispo, Patrick Griffin, Matt Hirning, Jay Jensen, Zach Knettles and Andrew Rechsteiner.